Deepika Kumari, former world number one archer, has reclaimed her position as India’s top archer after she won a silver medal at the just-concluded Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai. Deepika jumped 100 places up to claim the spot as he re-entered the top 40 in the world rankings. She has also been re-inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core group. This comes ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024.
Deepika Kumari’s rise to success after a break
Deepika’s journey has been one of resilience and determination. After taking a break in 2022 following the birth of her child, she made a successful comeback. Despite the challenges of motherhood and the competitive nature of the sport, Deepika has managed to excel both domestically and internationally.
Her recent achievements include winning a silver medal at the World Cup in Shanghai. This victory not only marked her return to form but also solidified her position as a leading figure in Indian archery. In addition to her World Cup success, she also won a medal at the Asia Cup earlier this year.
The TOPS program is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, aimed at providing support to India’s top athletes. Being part of this group means that Deepika will receive the necessary support and resources to prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) decided to reinduct ace recurve Archer Deepika Kumari to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core list, a decision made with the Paris Olympics looming within a span of less than 100 days. pic.twitter.com/HcBJmLKWwY
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2024
Currently, Dhiraj Bommadevara is the only other Indian archer who has qualified for the Paris Games. He secured his spot through a silver medal at the Asian Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok last year. With just one qualifying tournament remaining, scheduled for June 15 and 16 in Antalya, Turkey, the pressure is on for other archers to secure their berths.
In addition to Deepika’s re-induction, the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has made several other changes to the TOPS program during its 133rd meeting. Mrinal Chauhan has been added to the TOPS Development group, while Pravin Jadhav has been moved from the Development to the Core group. Para-powerlifter Ashok has also been inducted into the TOPS Core group.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the MOC has inducted squash players Anahat Singh, Abhay Singh, and Velavan Senthilkumar into the TOPS Development group. This decision comes after the LA organizing committee included squash in the 2028 edition of the Games in October 2023.
Also Read: Archery World Cup Stage 1: Indian Recurve Team Triumphs after 14 Years
